Local hopes for National glory

THE EYES of the racing world will be on the Aintree Grand National on Saturday (5.15 p.m.) when a maximum field of 40 is expected to go to post, with a number of Wexford jockeys likely to be involved.

Quite a few of the Cheltenham aces will be renewing rivalry over the three days that kick off on Thursday.

Details of the runners and riders have still to be finalised as I write, but Daryl Jacob, Seán Flanagan, Tom O’Brien and Jonathan Moore are all in with a good chance of taking part.

Cause of Causes, trained by Gordon Elliott for J.P. McManus, is one of the best backed at about 12/1 on Sunday. Barry Geraghty will have first pick for McManus but I suggest a good case could be made for Jamie Codd from Mayglass being given the chance to make history as an amateur.

Codd has won on the horse at the Cheltenham Festival in three different races over the past three years, and no one knows him better. He also has experience over the National fences having won with On The Fringe in the Foxhunters (amateurs’ Grand National) last year, a feat he is hoping to repeat on Thursday. Cause of Causes was eighth in the National two years ago, so he can get around.

Ten years ago, the 2007 National finish had a strong Wexford flavour about it. Winner was Silver Birch (33/1) for 29-years-old Gordon Elliott, who had yet to train a winner in Ireland, under this year’s Gold Cup-winning rider, Robbie Power, son of Con, showjumping legend from Fethard.

Second less than a length behind was McKelvey (12/1), a great first ride in the race for Tom O’Brien from Adamstown, and fourth was 100/1 outsider, Philson Run, an exciting National debut for Daryl Jacob (Davidstown)

Jacob was winner of the race in 2012 on Neptune Collonges (33/1) for Paul Nicholls, pipping Sunnyhill Boy by a nose in the tightest-ever finish. He is likely to ride Ucello Conti for Gordon Elliott and his retained owner, Simon Munir, and this one finished sixth last year.

Good luck to all you punters, experts and pin-stickers alike, and here’s hoping all jockeys and horses come back safe.

For what it’s worth, my three against the field are Cause of Causes, Pleasant Company (choice of Ruby Walsh) and Ucello Conti.

A number of recent local pointto-point winners will be up for sale in the Aintree parade ring after racing on Thursday, and are sure to attract keen interest.